Impulsive Risk-Taking Associated with Losing Visceral Fat

Visceral fat, the so-called intra-abdominal belly fat, secretes harmful hormones that play a toxic role in the human body, and researchers have recently found how to lose it.

Indeed, the role of these harmful hormones can increase the danger of several diseases.

Essentially, great amounts of visceral fat have been associated with insulin resistance, cancer developments, and increased hospital deaths.

Researchers in the medical field based at the Canada-based Hamilton General Hospital have explained further such an occurrence.

Visceral Obesity

Visceral obesity, like having too much visceral fat, for one, is dangerous to one's health. It can add to heart ailment and high blood pressure or hypertension, leading to an earlier death.

MRI and CT scans can offer clear proof of visceral obesity although, the so-called "waist circumference" can be a determining gauge.

Express News reported, recording the waist circumference can specify if an individual should lose visceral fat or not. Specifically, according to the British Heart Foundation, a "waist circumference measurement," when properly done, is almost precise enough.

As specified in the said report, one needs to place the clothing tape "at the midpoint between the ribs' bottom part" and the hips' top.

Researchers found that males measuring a maximum of 37 inches would need to "lose visceral fat." The same applied to female respondents who measured more than 31.5 inches.

Over 100 Middle-Aged Volunteers Involved

A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, investigated the impacts of chronic stress, as well as "impulsive risk-taking" in levels of visceral fats.

Involving about 113 middle-aged volunteers, the study went on for 18 months. During that time, the group of participants were divided into two: "the chronically-stressed and the lower-stressed participants."

People were classified into each group according to the evaluations conducted at the onset of the research. The study authors said they objectively analyzed "impulsive risk-taking" using BART or Behavioral Analog Risk Task at baseline.

As specified in the study, impulsive risk-taking can engage those with a "tendency to insufficiently think, plan and control" an individual's behavior.

Meanwhile, levels of visceral fat were gauged at baseline and then, at the end of the study, through the use of scans.

Associations with Greater Visceral Fat Levels

At the end of the investigation, greater impulsive risk-taking was linked to an increase in visceral fat. Notably, the study was trailed on mothers who had caregiving duties.

And, when compared to controls, greater impulsive risk-taking was not associated with greater visceral fat levels. More so, chronic stress nor impulsive risk-taking individually predicted the changes for 18 months in visceral fat.

Nevertheless, the integration of the two may raise the risk for the gain of visceral fat over time. The charity Diabetes UK acknowledges the possibility of visceral obesity that contributes to resistance to insulin.

Consequently, the charity recommends that people lower visceral fat levels by partaking in regular physical activity or exercise.

Other functional methods comprise healthy eating, having a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, and limiting intake of alcohol.

Lastly, Diabetes UK also acknowledges that stress can contribute partly to the accumulation of visceral part and it recommends reduction of stress levels.